The Parts of Customer Service That Should Never Be Automated

In Pixar's WALL-E, oversized humans recline on levitating barcaloungers and are dressed, primped, polished, and served, entirely by robots. Look no further than the public debut of Amazon Go, the company's first cashierless store. Digital imaging technology monitors which items shoppers select from shelves, and when a customer leaves the store, the person's online account is automatically charged. Down the road in Santa Clara, California, room service robots are being designed that can navigate a hotel's floor plan and interact digitally with its elevator and phone systems to deliver towels and beverages to guests. Various Silicon Valley startups have deployed robots that make pizzas, craft salads, and assemble artistic bistro sandwiches.